The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation.

The Illinois Arts Council Agency was created as a state agency by the Illinois General Assembly in 1965 through legislation sponsored by Senators Paul Simon, Thomas McGloon, and Alan Dixon. The agency is governed by up to twenty-one private citizens chosen for their demonstrated commitment to the arts and appointed by the Governor. Council members serve in a voluntary, non-paid capacity and are charged with developing the state’s public arts policy, fostering quality culturally diverse programs, and approving grants expenditures. A small professional staff with in-depth knowledge of the arts develops and administers the agency’s programs, provides technical assistance, and ensures the responsible and impactful distribution of all funds. Resources to support the Illinois Arts Council Agency are provided by the Governor and General Assembly of Illinois and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City’s future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors.

The Chicago Community Trust is a community foundation dedicated to improving our region through strategic grant making, civic engagement and inspiring philanthropy. We are here to serve the nonprofit organizations, the generous donors and the thoughtful residents who strive to make a difference, helping their bold vision create lasting community change. We work with a number of partnerships and initiatives to accomplish this work.

Supporting land conservation, artistic vitality, and regional collections for the people of the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

The Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development is a funder collaborative created to help strengthen the management and operations of small arts and cultural organizations in Chicago and Cook County. Sones de México Ensemble received $11,000 in 2016-2017 to support the redesign/upgrade of its current website, ancillary 2.0 information systems, and CRM. Project aims to improve communication with patrons and increase earned revenues.

Sponsor a child for a 12 week guitar lesson or the purchase of a guitar.

Thank You!

Randy Adamsick | Ruben Alvarez | Peter Ambriz | Betto Arcos | Maria Arcos | Mary Armsrong | Susana Bañuelos | Stuart Barnes Jamieson | Julie & Roger Baskes | Queta Bauer | Joanna Bauer | Judy Bauer | Maria Bechily | Thomas Bracy | Michelle Branigan | Andrew Brust | Maribel Burgos | Dayna Calderon | Odette Calderon | Armando Castellano | Carolina Cifuentes | Laura Cruz | Alberto Delgado | Federico & Rosa Maria Dies | Gonzalo & Heather Dies | Juan Dies | Hector Eichelmann | Bryan Fagan | Patricia Fong | Lisa Fredenburgh | Jesus Garcia | Lucila Gonzalez | Melissa Gonzalez | John & Chichi Guy | Zoe Hauser | Abraham Herrera | Sarah Hernandez | Jim Hirsch | Elisa Iñiguez | Ian Jipp | Tania Kadakia | Thomas Lariviere | Frances Lamas | Howard Lamson | Anna Lopez | Irma Lopez | Mary Mac Kinnon | Patty & Paul McCarthy | Jay McCann & Ann Clark | Maria McCullough | Juanita Martinez & Frank Torre | Michael Miles | Anna Miller | Amor Montes de Oca | Juana Monroy | Elena Mulcahy | Alvaro Obregón | Elena Osterwalder | Diana Palomar | Ross & Erika Peterson-Veatch | Alejandro Pureco | Nick Rabkin | Beth Racette | Luis Requena | Brenda Reyes | Lauren Rickey Greene | Henry Roa |Adrian Rodriguez | Eugene Rodriguez | Victoria Romero | Marsha & Robert Rosner | Monica Russell y Rodriguez | Marco Rustici | Maria Ryan | German Saccone | Karina Sanchez | Janey Sarther | Lissa Schwartz | Kerry Sheehan | Joanne Turciano | Pepe Vargas | Heather West | Araceli Zenteno

Scholarships for student music classes.

Gracias!

The following donors have established scholarships

Calor & SomosLoud Scholarship Fund
funded by Calor & SomosLoud

In 1990, a group of HIV and Latino activists formed a service initiative they named CALOR (Comprensión y Apoyo a Latinos en Oposición at Retrovirus). Since then the organization has touched many lives with culturally relevant services.

The Latino Outreach and Understanding Division (LOUD) is a division of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) that addresses the social and health disparities that threaten the Latino Community through innovative programmatic, marketing and direct-action strategies.

Together, these organizations are sponsoring a scholarship for a student to attend Sones de México Ensemble’s Mexican Music School, as part our 30th Anniversary.

Wintrust-Pilsen Scholarship Fund
funded by Wintrust-Pilsen

In 1991 Wintrust was built, with a local focus, on the values of commitment and service to our communities, and by engaging with organizations invested in the community they are able to advance their efforts more effectively. With this in mind, and as part of Sones de México Ensemble  30th Anniversary, Wintrust-Pilsen is sponsoring 1/2 scholarship for a student to attend our Mexican Music School.

 Link: https://www.wintrust.com/our-story/community-impact.html

Azteca^® Foods Scholarship Fund
funded by Azteca^® Foods

Azteca^® Foods started in 1970 as the vision of Art Velasquez, and 9 other Mexican-American businessmen who strived to promote the economic development and future leadership of their community. With this in mind, and as part of Sones de México Ensemble  30th Anniversary, Azteca^® Foods is sponsoring 1/2 scholarship for a student to attend our Mexican Music School.

 Link: https://www.aztecafoods.com/our-story/

The Ralla Klepak Memorial Scholarship
funded by The Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts

Ralla Klepak (1936-2019) was a performing arts enthusiast, an educator, and a fierce advocate on behalf of disadvantaged youth and individuals with disabilities. She was a lawyer for more than 55 years and an advocate for the LGBTQ community and dedicated her career to defending the most vulnerable. Upon her passing The Ralla Klepak Foundation was established to fund programs that support her vision and her legacy for years to come.

Thanks to her support of our programs at Metropolitan Family Services we were able expand our curriculum and offerings and establish a robust financial aid program at that location that guarantees that no one will be turned down due to inability to pay!.

The Mike Weinstein Memorial Scholarship Fund
funded by Jay McCann & Ann Clark

 Michael Weinstein (1942-2015) was an unconventional professor who was loved by many of his students and colleagues. He was a political philosopher, punk musician, and photography critic. He was a Guggenheim Fellow, Professor of Political Science at Purdue University, and the author or co-author of more than twenty books on a wide array of topics in philosophy.

 Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_A._Weinstein

The Luis Requena State Farm Insurance Agency Scholarship
funded by Luis Requena & Cristina Argueta

 Luis Requena is a fan of Mexican music. His son Diego Gabriel is a student in our program. he and his wife established this scholarship to make it possible for other less fortunate students to afford the cost of lessons and even getting a new guitar. Luis Requena is an insurance agent and proprietor of his own agency. Visit Luis Requena’s State Farm Insurance agency is located at 3539 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60609 or call (773) 245-6430.

Link: www.luisrequena.com